Value of prevention

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Many in Utah are quick to attack Planned Parenthood based on their beliefs about abortion. Abortions are a small 3 percent of Planned Parenthood.

Planned Parenthood is a great nonprofit organization that provides women (and men) with affordable contraceptives along with health information, counseling, breast exams, Pap and pregnancy tests and tests for sexually transmitted diseases.

Without this organization, many would not have the funds to pay for birth control, which would lead to more unwanted pregnancies, abortions and children born into poverty.

Utah's government does not fund Planned Parenthood in any way. Its funds come from federal funding (30 percent) and fees, donations and special events.

Some wish to do away with all government funding, saying that it is not the taxpayers' responsibility to pay for others' contraceptives. However, investing in Planned Parenthood lowers government expenditures: It is cheaper to prevent a pregnancy than to financially support a child born into poverty.

As a society, we should be more focused on preventative measures and planned pregnancies so that our citizens can be born into healthy and productive situations. Planned Parenthood is a great organization that helps women be responsible for themselves and their actions.